Mutation Killed off the Woolly Mammoth

When a warmer climate spread across the world, mammoths were in deep trouble. Melting snow together with predation by humans made the animals extinct. There numbers dwindled to zero in 6,000 years. A strange thing happened during this time. The species tried to adapt and threw up countless mutations. Most were destructive.| ▶ optimum not stories news. | mutations mammoths killed ◀ |

The long dark coat, so good as insulation from the cold, became like satin and light could shine through it. They got severe irritable bowel syndrome due to their loss of smell. It stopped them from mating due to protein changes in the creature's urine. | ▶ | australian| mutations ◀ |

These changes are now known from two specimens in Siberia. One on the mainland and another on a rock island. It was the slightly later Wrangel Island specimen that had an over representation of genetic mutations. Those who want to save threatened species must now be careful. Inbreeding could bring about the mass genetic alterations and that kills off endangered animals.| ▶ | not. | mutations ◀| ▶ | not | ◀ |